Dog Breed

Pekingese

Primary image of Pekingese dog breed
Full Name
Pekingese
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Life Span
14 - 18 years
Weight
11 - 14 pounds
Description

Opinionated, Good-natured, Stubborn, Affectionate, Aggressive, Intelligent

Origin
China
Bred For
Lapdog
Attachments
    Family Considerations
    Child Friendly

    Is the Pekingese good with children?

    Unfortunately, the Pekingese is not automatically well suited with children and we would not recommend for homes with very small children unless early socialization with children is taken seriously.
    Stranger Friendly

    Is the Pekingese friendly with strangers?

    The Pekingese is about average in how friendly they are with strangers. They can be timid or protective, but with proper training and socialization can be fine for any household.
    Dog Friendly

    Is the Pekingese friendly with other dogs?

    The Pekingese is not naturally friendly with other dogs, but with a good amount of early socialization as a puppy they can learn to get along with most breeds of dog. Proper training is required before letting the Pekingese go off-leash or to dog parks.
    Likes to Cuddle

    Does the Pekingese like to cuddle?

    The Pekingese loves physical affection and cuddles. If you're looking for a cuddle partner you may have found the one!
    Playfulness

    Does the Pekingese like to play?

    The Pekingese will almost always be ready for play! The Pekingese is great for a family with children, or otherwise, an environment that is always ready for play.
    Service Dog Ability

    Does the Pekingese make a good service dog?

    Historically, the Pekingese has never been used as a service dog and really would not be a good fit.
    Overall Ease of Breed
    Ease for Novice

    Is the Pekingese good for first-time owners?

    The Pekingese is not the easiest breed for first-time owners, but can certainly still work out if the owner is willing to put the time into training and exercise.
    Training Potential

    How well can the Pekingese be trained?

    The Pekingese is about average when it comes to training potential. The Pekingese can be seen in competitions and can have advanced training, but it would require much dedication and oftentimes professional training.
    Amount of Shedding

    Does the Pekingese shed a lot?

    The Pekingese does shed, but less than average.
    Ease of Grooming

    Is the Pekingese easy to groom?

    The Pekingese requires a good amount of grooming work. It is possible to do it yourself, but you need to plan on dedicating weekly grooming sessions at the minimum.
    Exercise Need

    Does the Pekingese need a lot of exercise?

    The Pekingese requires some daily exercise, but daily walks should be enough. The Pekingese appreciates going outside and on daily walks, but they will be ok without anything overly athletic.
    Personality
    Intelligence

    How smart is the Pekingese?

    The Pekingese has average intelligence. They are smart and witty, but do not need to be constantly challenged mentally, as some other breeds.
    Amount of Barking

    How much does the Pekingese bark? Does the Pekingese bark too much?

    The Pekingese barks a lot. This is important to consider with your living situation- will it be ok when you leave them at home alone or will they disrupt the neighbors? The Pekingese will oftentimes bark just to express their thoughts... even just to be heard!
    Guard Dog Ability

    Is the Pekingese a good guard dog?

    The Pekingese is not typically used as a guard dog, although they can be alert and oftentimes notify you if there is a stranger at the door or otherwise something to be concerned over.
    Tolerates Being Alone

    Is the Pekingese good at staying alone? Is the Pekingese independent?

    The Pekingese considers their owner part of the "pack" and hates being left behind. This can be a good thing for someone looking for an emotional support dog who is loyal and always by their side, but bad if the dog will need to be left at home alone for extended periods.
    Home and Environment Considerations
    Good for Apartment Living

    Is the Pekingese a good apartment dog?

    The Pekingese is an excellent dog breed for an apartment. Some daily exercise is still important, but if they get that then the apartment will be more than enough for them to call home.
    Size

    How big is the Pekingese?

    The Pekingese is one of the smallest dog breeds- suited well for apartment living and very convenient for travel.
    Tolerates Heat

    How much does the Pekingese tolerate hot weather? When is it too hot for a Pekingese?

    The Pekingese can tolerate some heat, but should not be over-exposed to hot weather. In general, they can live in hot weather climates, but would do best with air conditioning or at least a fan in their home, especially where they sleep.
    Tolerates Cold

    How much does the Pekingese tolerate cold weather? When is it too cold for a Pekingese?

    The Pekingese does not tolerate cold weather at all, and we would not recommend having a Pekingese if you live in a cold weather climate.
    Potential to Run Away

    Does the Pekingese try to run away?

    The Pekingese is very unlikely to run away. Of course, precautions should always be taken, and every dog is unique, but with a Pekingese it is very likely they will naturally follow you, even when they are off-leash.
    Physical Characteristics
    General Health

    Is the Pekingese a healthy dog? The health of a Pekingese should be measured not just by how many years they live, but also by how many health issues they've had. It is important to know which health conditions your breed is prone to- hip problems, eye problems, bloating, and arthritis are all common dog health problems.

    The Pekingese is very healthy, but it is still important to feed the Pekingese high-quality food and to live a healthy lifestyle.
    Energy Level

    How energetic is the Pekingese?

    The Pekingese has some energy and requires daily walks, but overall the Pekingese has less energy than average.
    Amount of Drooling

    How much does the Pekingese drool?

    The Pekingese does not drool at all.
    Prey Drive

    Does the Pekingese have a large prey drive? Does the Pekingese like to chase birds, cats, and other small animals?

    The Pekingese has some prey drive, so should not be left alone with very small animals such as birds, mice, or gerbils, but with some gradual introduction should be fine living with a cat in the same home.
    Athleticism

    Is the Pekingese atheltic?

    The Pekingese can have athletic moments, and bursts of speed, but does not have the endurance as other highly athletic dog breeds. They would do great for occasional jogs, but probably not the best for long-distance runs or anything more athletic than that.
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  • Secondary image of Pekingese dog breed

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  1. Toy
  2. Pekingese
The Pekingese is a purebred dog that falls within the larger Toy dog breed group.
Toy group: Toy dogs are primarily characterized by their very small size. But don't let that fool you- if anything their personality and tenacity is higher than the average dog. In fact, even their protective instincts are above average! In fact, because of that it is crucial they get socialization with children and other dogs from an early age. Perhaps out of all dog groups, the toy dog group is the most difficult to put sub-groups into, since the sub groups also include larger dogs, and fall under other groupings. For example, the Pomeranian is a Toy Spitz dog, but there are also large Spitz dogs such as the Samoyed. Because the toy dog is both small and primarily bred for home companionship, they make excellent additions for a wide range of families. There are also practical benefits with toy dogs- they are great for apartment living, and traveling. Toy dogs are also loyal and love to cuddle, making them the ideal lap dog.

Pekingeses for adoption

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